Karma - Das Gesetz von Ursache und wirkung

Gottes Schoepfung ist von perfekten Gesetzen geregelt. Alles was wir hier auf Erden sehen, ist ihnen unterworfen. Nirgendwo sonst findet man eine so gut geregelte Regierung.

Alles ist nach Gottes Wuenschen geordnet und das wird immer so sein – nur was Er will, wird geschehen. Eines Seiner Gesetze ist das von Ursache und Wirkung oder das Karma-Gesetz. Karma bedeutet Tat, Wirken aus selbstischen Motiven und das Schicksal, das aus den Folgen der eigenen Taten aus frueheren Leben erwaechst.

Das Karma-Gesetz sollte gruendlich verstanden werden.

Seine Botschaft ist: ”dieses, Euer jetziges Leben, ist die Auswirkung Eurer frueheren Taten und Gedanken. Seid auf der Hut mit dem was Ihr jetzt tut, denn das wird Eure Zukunft bestimmen. Tut Ihr Gutes, denkt positiv, so wird die Ernte entsprechend ausfallen. Werden jedoch Fehler begangen, wird Boeses getan, so kommt die Wirkung wie ein Boomerang mit gleicher Kraft auf Euch zurueck. Heisst es nicht in der Bibel “wie Du saest, so wirst Du ernten”? Wir selber sind die Verursacher unseres Schicksals. Wir saeten frueher den Ursache-Samen durch unsere Taten und Gedanken, der sich jetzt in unserem gegenwaertigen Leben auswirkt. Entsprechend ist die Ernte: leidvolle Erfahrungen oder frohe.

Es ist absolut nutzlos, die Zeit damit zu verschwenden, sich darueber zu sorgen oder zu gruebeln. Keiner ist fuer das Tun anderer verantwortlich. Noch bevor wir geboren werden, steht fest, welche Aufgaben wir zu erfuellen haben. Sie muessen ausgefuehrt werden und entsprechend der Art, wie es getan wird, faellt die Belohnung aus. Wer mit der Aufgabe zu regieren beauftragt wurde, wird nun selbst der regierte – es liegt in seinen eigenen Haenden. Wir stehen oder fallen durch unsere eigenen Taten.

Wir erhielten unsere Koerper gemaess unserer Taten. Einige Fruechte unserer Taten (Karmaphal) bringen Glueck, andere Leid. Sie kommen zu unterschiedlichen Zeiten auf uns zu. Die von uns gehegten Pflanzen (Taten, Gedanken) bilden entweder einen wunderschoenen Garten oder einen Dschungel voller Dornen. Was wir anderen an Freude bereiten kommt auf uns zurueck. Sollten wir eine gehobenere Position erreichen , beurteilen wir andere oft falsch und verletzen deren Gefuehle. Dabei vergessen wir, dass wir genauso alles zurueckbekommen. Kommt dann letztendlich der schmerzvolle Abschied (Tod), bereuen wir, was wir taten, aber dann ist es zu spaet.

Was geschehen muss, das kommt und kann unter keinen Umstaenden geaendert werden.
Karmaphal (die Fruechte unserer Taten) ist unausweichlich. Ist es da nicht ratsam, daran zu denken, wie vermieden werden kann, dass wir in Zukunft wieder in die Umklammerung dieses strikten und unverbruechlichen Gesetzes geraten? Was jedoch getan wurde kann aufgehoben werden.

Zum Beispiel: trinkt jemand Gift, so bleibt seine Wirkung nicht aus, ebenso verhaelt es sich mit Nektar – ob man es nun will oder nicht. Um die Wirkung des Giftes aufzuheben braucht man ein Gegengift. Aehnlich ist es mit Karma: durch Bereuen (Prayashit) kann die Wirkung boeser Taten weitgehend aufgehoben werden sowie durch Erleiden von Schmerzvollem. Mit jedem Tag jedoch entsteht neues Karma.

Dreck laesst sich nicht mit Hilfe von Dreck wegwaschen – dazu ist ein besonderes Wasser vonnoeten und das ist der heilige Gottesname. Da wir nicht zu voelliger Hingabe an Gott faehig sind, gab uns Lord Haranath Seinen maechtigen, wundertaetigen Namen.

Hierin liegt die Alchemie: der Name verwandelt Kama (Lust, Leidenschaft) in Prema (selbstlose Liebe) Er ist vergleichbar einem grossen Fischernetz, das maechtig genug ist, um Gott selbst damit einzufangen. Je dichter und staerker wir das Netz knuepfen, desto wirkungsvoller wird es, den so schwer zu Erreichenden einzufangen. Wenn Maya (Gottes selbsteigene Kraft, die vortaeuscht, vorspiegelt) sieht, dass wir staendig den Namen Gottes wiederholen und um nichts anderes als um Liebe zu Ihm bitten, ist sie uns gnaedig und fuehrt uns zu Seinem Koenigreich. Sind wir hingegen selbstsuechtig, materialistisch, egoistisch und vergessen, dass es Gott gibt, fuehrt sie uns weiter in die Verblendung.

Ein anderer Weg, der Umklammerung Karma’s zu entkommen ist, wie ein Agent, wie ein Werkzeug zu handeln. Lord Haranath erklaerte es mit diesem Beispiel:

“Ihr seht mich diese Pfeife rauchen. Findet man sie in der Tasche von Herrn X, wird jeder ihn fuer den Raucher halten. Wenn Herr X jedoch sagt, dass ich ihm die Pfeife gab und er sie lediglich fuer mich aufbewahrt, kann man ihn nicht verantwortlich halten. Aehnlich ist es mit dem Karma-Gesetz: wer Gott allein als Handelnden sieht und sich selbst nur als Sein Werkzeug, ueberlaesst die Fruechte des Karma’s Ihm. Das nennt man Karmaphal-Entsagung. Unsere Pflicht ist es, zu arbeiten, aber nicht die Fruechte anzunehmen, die sich daraus ergeben. Solange Durst nach den Fruechten der Taten besteht wird man immer wieder aufs neue geboren.

Belohnungen zu begehren verkettet, waehrend Entsagung das Herz reinigt , Erkenntnis vom wahren Selbst bringt , und Befreiung vom Kreislauf immer wieder neuer Geburten und Tode. Ein Weiser besiegt sein frueheres Karma dadurch, das er sich mit Gott verbuendet anstatt mit Seiner Schoepfung. Gott beobachtet all unser Tun in Seiner all-durchdringenden universalen Form. Wer in vollkommener Ergebenheit alle Karmas zu Seinen Fuessen niederlegt geraet unter Seinen Schutz und Einfluss– dann wird Maya ihn nicht laenger verblenden. Festigt sich der Glaube, vertieft sich unsere Liebe zu Ihm und ergeben wir uns mit Koerper, Geist und Seele , wird Er unser falsches Ich-Bewusstsein (das den Koerper fuer das Selbst haelt) ausloeschen, das uns von Ihm trennt. Fuer einen wahren Gott-Liebenden (Devotee) wird jedes Tun, ob sacral oder nicht, eine Opfergabe, ist ein Ausdruck Seiner Liebe zu Ihm. Ein solcher ist demuetig, bescheiden und sich staendig seiner Unzulaenglichkeiten bewusst. Nichts schreibt er sich selber zu – ueberall sieht er nur Gottes Gnade. Ein wahrhaft Gott-Suchender muss auf das Selbst-Geniessenwollen verzichten, er sollte stets ein heiteres Gemuet haben und voll ekstatischer Liebe zu Ihm sein.

Die Erde ist als Ort der Pruefungen geschaffen worden und sie wurde ausgestattet mit allem, was alle Wesen gluecklich macht. Warum ist die Menschheit nicht glueckilich? Der Grund ist, dass wir Gott vergessen haben. Falls wir immer Seiner gedenken finden wir reine Seligkeit. Es ist eine Suende, sich m Koenigreich Gottes ungluecklich zu fuehlen.

Die Zeit ist wie ein Drehbuch, auf der die Szenen niedergeschrieben sind, die wir als Spieler zu spielen haben. Der Manager des Theaters – Gott- beobchtet das Spiel und bestimmt sein Tempo. Einige Spieler werden beklatscht, andere gescholten.

Keiner kann den tatsaechlichen Moment der Geburt vorhersagen, ebensowenig wie den Augenblick, wenn diese koerperliche Huelle abgelegt wird. Aehnlich verhaelt es sich mit Verkoerperung und Aufloesung. Nur nach dem Tod beginnt wahres Leben und Evolution.

Es ist ungemein wichtig, was wir in den letzten Momenten unseres Lebens denken, denn das bestimmt unser naechstes Leben. Wer nie an Gott glaubte, nie an Ihn dachte, nie Seinen Namen wiederholte, kann ein solcher im Todesmoment Seiner gedenken? Ganz bestimmt gelingt das jedoch jenen, die staendig Seinen Namen wiederholen, an Seine Liebe zu uns denken und Ihm ergeben sind.

Im Srimad Bhagavatam steht:

Wer staendig an Vergnuegungen denkt, kann sich nie von der gegenwaertigen Existenz befreien. Gib alle egoistischen Wuensche auf, loese Dich vom Koerperbewusstsein – werde wunschlos, begierdelos. Wahre geistige Erkenntnis befreit von Taten, die aus Unwissenheit entstanden sind. Du bist eine Seele, voller Glanz, ungeboren, unermesslich, identisch mit Bewusstsein, unvergleichlich, einmalig.

Und im Brahma Samhita:

“Gott Krishna verbrennt das Karma derer, die sich Ihm gaenzlich ergeben haben”

Das Karma-Gesetz sieht vor, dass alle Wuensche der Menschen letztendlich Erfuellung finden. Es sind unsere Wuensche, Begierden, die uns an das Karmarad binden. Was jedoch einmal getan ist kann aufgehoben werden. Arbeite ununterbrochen ohne Anerkennung oder Belohnung zu erwarten – frei von Gier, Lust, Aerger, Egoismus. Nur dann wird alles Tun zum Wohle gereichen. Wir sollten uns nicht den Kopf zerbrechen, ob es richtig getan wurde Er, dessen Arbeit es ist, wird es beurteilen. Sind wir bereit, all Seine Aufgaben an uns wie ein Kulie auszufuehren, finden wir Zufriedenheit und alles wird von Erfolg gekroent sein.

Das Karma-Gesetz tritt in Aktion solange wir im ICH und MEIN verhaftet sind . Wenn wir uns mit dem Koerper identifizieren, vergessen wir Gott und dass unser wahres Sein in Ihm ist. Lasst uns nie vergessen, dass alles, was wir unser Eigen nennen, Ihm gehoert. Alle, die sich an diese unwirkliche, sich staendig veraendernde Welt klammern,muessen leiden.

Lord Haranath wurde einmal von einem Devotee gefragt: “kann die Tat, durch die ich wiedergeboren wurde, durch Gottes Gnade geloescht werden und in wieweit hilft es, wenn ich Seinen Namen wiederhole?” Hierauf antwortete Er mit einem Gleichnis:

“Zwei Menschen fielen in den Ozean von Samsara (Kreislauf von Geburt, Tod und Wiederkehr). Einer der beiden wurde von einem Boot mit Bootfuehrer begleitet und das ist der einzige Unterschied zwischen den beiden. Derjenige, der das Boot nahe bei sich hat, schwimmt furchtlos, denn er weiss, dass der Bootfuehrer (Gott) ihn gewiss retten wird, wenn er nicht mehr kann. Der andere jedoch sieht ringsum nur meilenweit Wasser, kein Ufer, keine Hilfe.. Er ist ohne jegliche Hoffnung und Trost.

Sieh nun, ob es nicht besser ist, bei Gott Zuflucht zu suchen. Wer sich Ihm ergibt, wird eines Tages gewiss befreit werden. Fuer das gegenwaertige Leben hat er zwar die Fruechte seiner Taten zu erdulden; die angesammelten Taten fuer zukuenftige Leben werden hingegen geloescht.”
Kann es eine groessere Befriedigung geben, als die Aufgaben, die Er uns gab, gut zu erfuellen und Ihn aus ganzem Herzen zu lieben? Wenn alle Taetigkeiten darauf ausgerichtet sind, Ihm zu dienen, dann werden wir von dem Tun, das uns an das Karmarad bindet, befreit.

Wahre Religion bedeutet Gott und unser Verhaeltnis zu Ihm zu erkennen sowie unsere Bestimmung, wenn wir den Koerper verlassen.

Fuer diejenigen, die nicht an Gott glauben und meinen sie seien es , die handeln, gibt es kein Entfliehen von Karma’s Umklammerung. Allein Er ist es, der handelt – so etwas wie eigene Taten gibt es nicht. Alles gehoert Ihm, dem alleinigen Meister des Universums.

Im Zoegern liegt Gefahr. Wir sollten die uns noch verbleibende, kostbare Zeit nicht vergeuden. Moegen wir immer fuehlen, wie nah Er uns ist, dass Seine Liebe alles uebersteigt und dass wir mit Ihm verbunden sind, wenn wir Seinen Namen wiederholen, denn Er und Sein Name sind nicht verschieden – sie sind Eines. Durch staendige Wiederholung Seines Namens erlangen wir Prema, Liebe zu Ihm, und das ist alles, was Er von uns erwartet

By
Ruth Baur

Karma - The Law of Cause & Effect

The Lord’s creation is governed by perfect laws, everything that is seen in this world is subject to laws. Nowhere else can we find such a well-regulated government. All things are regulated according to the Lord’s wishes and will ever be so. Only what is His will is going to happen.
One of the laws is the law of Cause and Effect or the law of Karma. The message of this law has to be well understood as it is very, very important: ” this life of yours is the effect of your past actions and thinking. Beware of your present actions, for they will determine your future. If you do good, think good, you will be rewarded accordingly, if you commit mistakes or evil actions they will return to you with equal strength. As you sow, so you shall reap. We are ourselves the instigators of the causes of whatever effects are now prevalent in our life. We created it by our own actions. What will be, must be. We have to suffer the consequences of our past deeds, it cannot be otherwise. Why therefore wasting our time in fruitless cares?
None is responsible for the actions of others, everyone has come for his own particular work which is fixed before he is borne. This he has to do and get his wages according to his performance. Whoever is entrusted the task of governing, is himself the governed, it lies in his own hands. We stand and fall by our own actions.
The human bodies have been formed according to their own deeds. They take their birth as per the fruits of past Karmas, some fruit (Karmaphal) give joy, some sorrow and will be enjoyed or suffered at different times. The plants (actions, thoughts) reared by us grow into a beautiful garden or a jungle of thorns. We are not only harming others by injuring or willing but just by feeling angry, by acting greedily or selfish towards them. This triggers the same negative feelings in them. The power of thought is 10million times stronger than that of action. The harm that can be done to the world by evil thought is much greater than that caused by evil action. We get back enjoyments as we give to others. If we attain a high position we often judge wrongly, forgetting when we wounded the feelings of other people today, that we shall have to suffer in the same way tomorrow. When the day of suffering comes at last, we begin to repent – too late! What is to happen will surely happen – that can never be reversed by any attempt. Karmaphal is inevitable. Should we not rather think of how to avoid falling in future again under the clutches of this stern and inviolable law? –
What man has done, he can undo. For example: If you drink poison, whether you wish it or not, it will have its effect; similarly nectar. In order to nullify the effect of poison an anti-venum has to be administered. Similarly through repentance (Prayashit) the effect of bad deeds can be nullified to a great extent.
By suffering one can atone for past Karmas but cannot put a stop to fresh Karmas just as dirt cannot be removed by dirt. Special water is required to wash it off . The only sacred water is the Name of the Lord. As man cannot get unalloyed devotion at once in the heart, the Lord gave us His powerful sweet Name. In it lies the alchemy. It turns Kama into Prema. Name is the best net to catch Him. The closer and stronger we weave its meshes the more effective it becomes to catch the Illusive One. When Maya finds that we repeat only God’s Name, asking for nothing else, then out of compassion She will take us to His kingdom, but as long as we are materialistic and live forgetful of the Lord, She guides us and gives Her directions.-
Another way to be freed from the grip of Karma is to act as an agent, as an instrument. Lord Haranath explained this by telling this story: “You see me now smoking this pipe. If it is suddenly found in your pocket, all will hold you responsible for being the smoker, but you say, that the pipe has been given to you and you only kept it in your care. Then no blame comes to you. So, if you act as per the Lord’s wish you are only an instrument and the Karmaphal is left to Him. You are dedicating or renouncing your Karmaphal to the Lord which is Karmaphal Tyaga or renunciation. Our duty is to work but not to accept the fruits thereof. Work, but never desire its fruits ,for as long as there is thirst for the fruits of action, one will have to take birth again and again. Expecting fruits brings bondage, renouncing them purifies the heart , brings in its wake Jnana of the Self and frees from the rounds of births and deaths.
The wise man defeats his past by transferring his allegiance from creation to the Creator, who is in His all-pervading universal form watching our movements at all times. Surrender all Karmas at His feet and find relief. Through total surrender to the Lord we come under His influence and protection. Maya will no longer affect us. As our love and faith grows, as we surrender mind, ego, body totally, the Lord will destroy the Ego, which separates us from Him. For a true devotee every work, divine or ordinary, is a sacred offering, an expression of his love for the Lord. He is full of humbleness and realizes his own shortcomings. He will not take any credit on himself but sees everywhere Lord’s grace. If we really want to get Him, we must abjure self-enjoyment and learn to be full of joy and Prema Rasa.
The earth is a place of examination, for purging; one who comes here must suffer, till he becomes perfectly pure. Even when the universal Master comes to play with us here He submits to this law. – But everything on it has been designed to give us happiness. The reason why in spite of it we get gloomy, is that we forget the Lord. If we can remember Him, we find nothing but unbroken bliss , not even a shadow of discomfort exists here. It is a sin to think of misery within the kingdom of the Lord, it is absolutely impossible.
Time is like a scroll, actions are the parts of a play written on it, while we are the players. One is to act exactly and only to that extent as is written on this scroll. The manager of this playhouse – the Lord – is watching the play and maintains its tempo by applauding some and scolding others.
As no one can prognosticate the actual moment of parturition so no one can exactly say when this material body will be expelled from its invisible encasement. Incarnation and dissolution are just the same. There is not the least difference between them. Only after death do we get real life. Then we resume our onward march. It is most important what we think in the last moments of our life for that determines our next life. Can a person who never took Lord’s Name, never had faith in Him, never remembered Him, suddenly remember Him in the hour of death? May we repeat His Name always, then, in that last moment, we will naturally think of Him and His Prema.
Srimad Bhagavatam sais:
“A soul constantly reflecting upon objects of enjoyments becomes never free from the bondage of the present existence. Therefore forsake all intimacy and selfish ideas regarding the body by spiritual knowledge. Have no desires. Spiritual knowledge removes every possibility of committing actions out of ignorance. You are a soul, full of effulgence, unborn, immeasurable, identical with consciousness, unparalleled, unique.”
Brahma Samhita: “Lord Krishna burns off the Karma of those who have totally surrendered to Him”
The Karmic law requires that every human wish finds ultimately fulfilment. Desire is the chain that binds man to the Karmic wheel, but what has been done, can be undone. Work incessantly but without expectation of fruits or anticipation of rewards. One has to be free from greed, lust, anger, egoism; then only it becomes useful work. To worry that a thing is not being done right, is for Him to judge, whose work it is. Be determined to do every behest of His even like a coolie and you are sure to be successful and gratified.
When the egoistic feelings of I and Mine come in, the law of Karma begins to operate. As soon as the Ego comes in, God is forgotten. Never forget your true Self, your real existence is in God; and all that you claim as your own, belongs to Him. Those who struggle and cling to this unreal, ever changing world thinking it is real have to suffer endless troubles and miseries.
Once Lord Haranath was asked by a devotee “can the act for which I have taken this form be annihilated by the Lord’s mercy and how much helps Name repetition?”
Lord gave a wonderful simile to make it clear:
Two persons fell into the ocean of Samsara (the cycle of birth, death, rebirth, also this world) .By the side of one is a boat, that being the only difference. The one with a boat near him swims fearlessly, knowing, that the boatman (the Lord) will lift him out if needed, whereas the other one can only see deep water everywhere, no shore, no rescuing boat. How can he get peace or happiness? Hopelessness overtakes him. See, whether there is any benefit by taking shelter in the Lord. The one who has surrendered to the Lord will succeed one day or the other. The Lord will free him, he will only have to reap the Karmaphal for this life and the accumulated actions for the lives to come will be annihilated.”
What indeed can be a greater delight than to consume the body in the work of Him who gave it, and to love Him with the whole heart and soul in utter self-forgetfulness? When all activities are dedicated to the Lord’s service then the actions which caused bondage become the destroyers of the tree of Karma.
Real religion means to know the Lord, our relationship with Him and ultimately our destination after leaving this material body. For those who don’t have faith in God and think that they are the ones, who act, there is no escape from the grip of Karma. We have no works of our own – all works belong to Him, the sole Master of the universe.
There is danger in delay, may we not fritter away the precious time in any way, may we always feel His presence, have Him in mind, immersed in love for Him, immersed in His Name every moment of our life.

By Ruth Baur ( Germany )

Lords wondeful Creation

O Lord, blessed is your vast, wonderful creation. Out of small portions of your own land of bliss (Krishna Loka) have you decked this place out so very beautiful. A mere particle of you has made the sun, moon, trees, plants, fruits, flowers and the whole enchanting universe. You longed for Prema and your creation is the result, and because of your longing for Prema you incarnated yourself to enjoy also human love.

You created the Jivas after your own image to reflect your own beauty and made them so charming – not that they become vain, but for your enjoyment. Your beauty is not hidden away nor can any object hide it, but our eyes have not the ability to realize your beauty. Therefore it is not evident here and there. As we are gradually repeating your holy Name even those eyes who could not see your beauty will behold it, even in common objects. Then we will make your beauty the object of our contemplation and begin to consider all things in this world as your diverse plays. Your beauty is so peerless, so irresistible that anyone, who looks at you but once, is sure to be captivated and to remain a slave to your charms forever.
In this great theatre of creation you alone are the audience. All created beings – men, birds, beasts, worms, insects – have come each to play a part on the stage of Him, who is the dearest to all. Each will pass away in time, when his part in the play is over. In this theatre some are dressed as king, some as saints, others as apes, dogs, jackals, drunkards etc., and all are watched by the Creator with equal interest. Each one pleases Him with his performance and gets his reward according to how he plays his part. For those, who cannot act well, He engages tutors to coach them. Then He appoints them again in good service. Everyone has come for his own particular work, which he has to do.

You said, that this objective universe is your stage to play upon, and that you have come from the beginning of time to play on this stage in order to teach us the lessons of love and to save us from the allurements of your Maya. You reminded us that this transitory earthly home is not our permanent resting place, and that we should never lose sight of our eternal abode of peace, your Lotosfeet - the only point still and calm. Whatever is of this world is to make us forget the truth. Prior to our present birth we appeared times out of number on this earth, each time in a different form – man, woman, beast or bird etc. Those who learnt to regard this world and its joys and sorrows as obstacles in the way of attaining the Lord are really wise and blessed. When we forget the truth, the ever merciful Lord, in order to bring us back to our senses, sends some diseases or bereavements, that we may be roused to our true state.

The creation is never governed by chance or accident but always by established and immutable laws. Human laws punish crimes and offences in order to correct. Equally the Lord, but to save them – His punishments are blessings in disguise. We stand or fall by our own actions and not by what others may do or say. A wrong-doer is himself the person, who brings about his own capture and punishment. Should he for example commit theft and run away, that act leaves traces behind.- Sweet indeed are the doings of the Lord and deep in significance as the ocean are they. Nowhere else can one find such a well-regulated government. Whoever has been entrusted with the task of governing, is himself the governed. His fate lies in his own hands. As long as one thinks that he is acting, there is no end to Karma.

All the objects which we see here are given by you, and are regulated according to your wishes – nothing can be called our own, nothing is without you nor can it ever be – Every molecule and atom in this universe belongs to you, o Lord. Your store is inexhaustible! When we realize this, we will never consider anything as our own. Nothing of what we call our own did we bring with us nor will we take any part thereof with us when departing. Even this material body is yours and will be taken away by you at the fixed time. Let us never forget, that we have to protect it carefully as your property. When this body is taken away by you, why do we mourn? You alone are its owner.

We can never have in this world what we are not to have, however much we may ask for it. Everything is Yours, yet we bring up and fondle like supervisors what You keep here for the time being. Let us not be attached to the earth for its own sake but regard it always as your playthings, then malice or hatred will have no place in the heart.

Why so much hesitation in giving or spending when all the wealth is supplied by another? The wealth will remain His, whose it is – nobody can take it away. We are mistaken to think it is ours. Go on doing your duty with the wealth of the Lord. From Him we get the flowers and leaves for His worship, and at His feet we should offer them back. When blood is well-circulated in the body it nourishes, but if stagnant, it destroys the tissues. Similarly with money: if hoarded it hardens and corrupts the heart, if in circulation it softens and purifies. Let us be happy and contented with what He has bestowed on us and be at His merciful feet – that is real salvation.

The Lord makes some of His children owners of rich stores in order that they help their brothers and sisters in need. If they fail to discharge their duty they will next be made a dependent and the charge of the store be conferred to another one, who is more dutiful, more worthy.

We have no works of our own in this universe. Everything lies in His hands – what is His will, will happen. Let us equally endure all His actions. All works belong to Him, the sole master of the creation. It is already predetermined what we have come to do – we cannot but do that. We have to remember in every work that we are not free, but ever a servant of the Lord. Equally our comings and goings are not depending on our will, but take place at His will. None can know or say what the Lord’s will is – like the blind we move according to His will. After deliberating so much and hoping for the future, we do various works, but all the works are done only in accordance with His will. All actions we do by not realizing the imports of the Lord’s commands cause us great suffering in future and turn out to be matters for regret. But then it will be too late.

Worldly actions will be left behind in the world. Is it not advisable to do the real work, which will accompany us and do mighty good? Our Lord reminded us again and again that our sole duty is to contemplate on Him and to take His Name incessantly. If this is followed, it leads to the automatic annihilation of the source of Karma. By doing so we will become all holy and sanctify the entire creation. Everything, except the Lord and His Name, is false. We played this game in the world from times immemorial but have we ever found satisfaction or happiness?

Before we came, it was fixed, what we have to do. What has to happen must happen, by no effort can it be changed in this or that way, even to the slightest degree. Employ the material body for material objects but surrender your entire heart and soul to the Lord, the supreme cause of all causes unconditionally with body, mind and soul. By taking His Name pure Satwa Guna is generated, the fruit of which is Bhakti. Bhakti leads to Prema, the great coin, by which only the Lord can be purchased. This coin of Name should be manufactured with yearning, unrest and single-mindedness. The holy Name should sink deep, transfigure our inner self and saturate our thoughts and feelings. Thereby it will establish an invincible contact with the universal Lord. His divine protection will form around us an impenetrable armour.
As long as we are self-seeking or materialistic and live forgetful of the Lord, we are in the grip of Maya. When we forget our own vanity, and become solely devoted to the Lord, He, who is all-loving, all-merciful, will stretch out His hand and absolve us from our Karma.

Is it possible for this world to exist, if the Lord remains indifferent even for a moment? At once it would have been destroyed. It is only because He is present, that sun, moon, planets, stars are doing their respective duties.

Can we ever know Him fully, the ravisher of souls, the all-loving, all-blissful? Simply love Him with all your heart and take His Name. This will open the gates of our hearts, so long locked up. The aim of our life in His creation is to reach our offerings of love to Him, who is seated with His consort in the hearts of His devotees, to enjoy the bliss of His own creation.

By Ruth Baur ( germany )